Just Kidding | ✔️

Chapter 22: Hush

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We walk down the almost silent halls in the hospital. Smells of medicine and sickness emit from each corner we stroll past. My eyes wander to Cooper's, the melancholy is clear from every step further we make towards his brother.

I didn't even know he had a brother. I don't know much about him at all. I suppose that's what today is supposed to bring; more insight.

At the sight of Cooper not smiling or smirking, no humor of anger, just a boy visiting his sick brother. I find myself reaching out for his hand, wrapping my fingers around his before I know what I'm doing and once I do figure it out I'm quickly slipping it away. I try to at least, but Cooper squeezes tightly onto my hand, drawing me closer to him until I'm locked at his side.

"Is he in there?" I ask once Cooper stops in front of a wooden door.

"Yeah." He sighs and just like that we're entering the room, immediately the squeaky voice of a young boy cheers his brothers name.

"Cooper!?" Hopping out of his bed, the small figure skids across the room and into his brother's arms. The sight of Cooper leaning down to capture his younger brother is a sight for sore eyes. Especially when he squeezes him tight. The need to protect his brother is clear in the way Cooper's arms wrap around him like he's afraid to let go.

Looking away, I just now find another boy in the corner of the room, except he who looks to be about my and Cooper's age. He's got a children's book in his hand, the same one my mother used to read to me every night when I was younger: Hush Little Baby

Before I can start crying like a bloody idiot, I meet the hazel eyes of the brown haired boy up ahead.

"And who is this fine looking lady?" He steps forward. Cooper turns from his little brother over to me with a smile.

"Tanner, this is Kyla." Cooper presents me and Tanner sticks out his steady hand for me to shake to which I gladly take. "Kyla this is a good friend in my family. He's here pretty much every day forcing my poor brother to eat vegetables."

I laugh.

"Kyla. . ." Tanner says my name as if he knows it well, then suddenly there's a glint in his eyes. "Ah, so this is the one." At Tanner's comment, Cooper instantly slaps his shoulder, scowling at him.

Cooper's talked about me? I can only imagine what he's said. It probably went something like: "there's this annoying bitch."

"So are you two going out now or?" Tanner questions.

Cooper grins, shaking his head he looks to me and my frustrated expression. "No, No. We are just working on a project together and I wanted to check up on my little bro." He turns around and there's the young boy back in his bed coloring with different shades of crayons.

"Oh really now?" Tanner looks between us.

"Thankfully yeah," I cross my arms over my chest and stare Cooper down. "But we both know he wants to jump my bones already." I lower my tone and Tanner bursts out laughing meanwhile Cooper shakes his head at me.

"Is that so?" Tanner runs the pad of his thumb over his bottom lip.

"She's a little dramatic." Cooper waves me off.

"I'm dramatic?" I blink, remembering the events of the past couple days. He must remember because he shuts right up.

"Don't even deny it bro," Tanner chuckles. "It's written all over your face."